Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
7. The Biters Of The Walls (Further Account)
Bytheancientlawofthelandallthepeople,greatandsmall,weretheservantsoftheking,tobeputwithoutquestiontowhatpurposeshechose;andPhorenicestoodintheplaceoftheking.SoItriedtothinknotreason,butwithasighpassedon,keepingmyeyesabovethemiseriesandthesqualorsoftheroadway,andsendingoutmythoughtstothestarswhichhunginthepurplenightabove,andtotheHighGodswhichdweltamongstthem,seeking,ifitmightbe,forguidanceformyfuturepolicies.Andsointimethewindingsofthestreetsbroughtustothewalls,and,coursingbesidetheseandgivingfittinganswertothesentrieswhobeattheirdrumsaswepassed,wecameintimetothatgreatgatewhichwasachargetothecaptainofthegarrison.
Hereitwasplaintherewassomespecialcommotion.Anoiseoflaughterwentupintothestillnightair,andwithitnowandagainthesnarlandroarofagreatbeast,andnowandagaintheshriekofahurtman.Butwhatevermightbeafoot,itwasnotascenetocomeuponsuddenly.Theentrancegatesofourgreatcapitalweredesignedbytheirancientbuilderstobenolessstrongthanthewallsthemselves.Fourpairsofvalveswerethere,eachamonstrousblockofstonetwoman-heightssquare,andaman-heightthick,andthewallwasdoubledtoreceivethem,enclosinganopencircusbetweenitstwoparts.
